Ground-Water Quality Classification and Recommended Septic Tank Soil- Absorption-System Density Maps, Cache Valley, Cache County, Utah
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GROUND-WATER QUALITY CLASSIFICATION AND RECOMMENDED SEPTIC TANK SOIL- ABSORPTION-SYSTEM DENSITY MAPS, CACHE VALLEY, CACHE COUNTY, UTAH by Mike Lowe, Janae Wallace, and Charles E. Bishop Utah Geological Survey Cover Photograph: flowing well in the Cache Valley discharge area. Photo by Janae Wallace. Although this product represents the work of professional scientists, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, makes no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding its suitability for any particular use. The Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, shall not be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to claims by users of this product. ISBN 1-55791-686-1 SPECIAL STUDY 101 Utah Geological Survey a division of 2003 Utah Department of Natural Resources STATE OF UTAH Michael O. Leavitt, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Robert Morgan, Executive Director UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Richard G. Allis, Director UGS Board Member Representing Robert Robison (Chairman) ...................................................................................................... Minerals (Industrial) Geoffrey Bedell.............................................................................................................................. Minerals (Metals) Stephen Church .................................................................................................................... Minerals (Oil and Gas) E.H. Deedee O’Brien ........................................................................................................................ Public-at-Large Craig Nelson ............................................................................................................................ Engineering Geology Charles Semborski ............................................................................................................................ Minerals (Coal) Ronald Bruhn .............................................................................................................................................. Scientific Kevin Carter, Trust Lands Administration ................................................................................... Ex officio member UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY is organized into five geologic programs with Administration and Editorial providing neces- sary support to the programs. The ENERGY & MINERAL RESOURCES PROGRAM undertakes studies to identify coal, geothermal, uranium, hydrocarbon, and industrial and metallic resources; initiates detailed studies of these resources including mining district and field studies; develops computerized resource data bases, to answer state, federal, and industry requests for information; and encourages the pru- dent development of Utah’s geologic resources. The GEOLOGIC HAZARDS PROGRAM responds to requests from local and state governmental entities for engineering-geologic investigations; and identifies, documents, and interprets Utah’s geologic hazards. The GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM maps the bedrock and surficial geology of the state at a regional scale and at a more detailed scale by quadrangle. The GEOLOGIC INFORMATION & OUTREACH PROGRAM answers inquiries from the public and provides infor- mation about Utah’s geology in a non-technical format. The ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES PROGRAM maintains and publishes records of Utah’s fossil resources, provides paleontological and archeological recovery services to state and local governments, conducts studies of environmental change to aid resource management, and evaluates the quantity and quality of Utah’s ground-water resources. The UGS Library is open to the public and contains many reference works on Utah geology and many unpublished documents on aspects of Utah geology by UGS staff and others. The UGS has several computer databases with information on mineral and energy resources, geologic hazards, stratigraphic sections, and bibliographic references. Most files may be viewed by using the UGS Library. The UGS also manages the Utah Core Research Center which contains core, cuttings, and soil samples from mineral and petroleum drill holes and engineering geology investigations. Samples may be viewed at the Utah Core Research Center or requested as a loan for outside study. The UGS publishes the results of its investigations in the form of maps, reports, and compilations of data that are accessible to the pub- lic. For information on UGS publications, contact the Natural Resources Map/Bookstore, 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116, (801) 537-3320 or 1-888-UTAH MAP. E-mail: [email protected] and visit our web site at http:\mapstore.utah.gov. UGS Editorial Staff J. Stringfellow ....................................................................................................................................................Editor Vicky Clarke, Sharon Hamre...............................................................................................................Graphic Artists James W. Parker, Lori Douglas .............................................................................................................Cartographers The Utah Department of Natural Resources receives federal aid and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. For information or complaints regarding discrimination, contact Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources, 1594 West North Temple #3710, Box 145610, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-5610 or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L Street, NW, Washington DC 20507. Printed on recycled paper 12/02 Special Study 101 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT . .1 INTRODUCTION . .1 Purpose and Scope . .3 Ground-Water Quality Classification . .3 Septic-Tank Density/Water-Quality Degradation Analysis . .3 Well Numbering System . .4 Location and Geography . .5 Climate . .5 PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS . .5 GEOLOGIC SETTING . .6 GROUND-WATER CONDITIONS . .6 Introduction . .6 Basin-Fill Aquifer . .7 Occurrence . .7 Depth to Ground Water . .7 Ground-Water Flow . .7 Recharge and Discharge . .7 Ground-Water Quality . .7 GROUND-WATER QUALITY CLASSIFICATION . .11 Introduction . .11 Results . .11 Total-Dissolved-Solids Concentrations . .11 Nitrate Concentrations . .11 Dissolved-Iron Concentrations . .13 Sulfate Concentrations . .15 Chloride Concentrations . .15 Other Constituents . .16 Resulting Ground-Water Quality Classification . .17 Class IA - Pristine ground water . .17 Class II - Drinking Water Quality ground water . .17 Class III - Limited Use ground water . .17 Land-Use Planning Considerations . ..